Buffalo Skipper

Good suggestions all. Our regatta is small, so I am trying not to focus on topics where one unit is markedly stronger than another. As an example, one ship actively competes in (or assists with) yacht racing, while the other wouldn'd know a yacht race from a bridge of honor. I also have a "Nautical and Sea Scout" history category, but I didn't list it hoping for something different; same is true for "Safety Afloat." Looks like, per your suggestions, these are the right categories after all. I was under the impression that it would be difficult to find "fair" questions from these groups, but prehaps if I focus on what is in the SSM, it will be as reasonable as I could expect. Anyone who wants a copy of this is welcome to PM me with their email and I will forward it to you. So far, it has turned out to be really good.

Over Christmast break, when I went throught our old files and stuff, I found 44 "Patrol of the Month" ribbons custom made for our troop, in 7 different colors; these are 8" ribbons. I even found the original receipt, which was dated 1983. We paid something like $.85 back then. We decided to bring back the "Patrol of the Month" award, having a near 4 year supply on hand. We also ordered ribbons for the events we had at our troop sponsored Webelos Fun Day back in January. We ordedred these 12" ribbons for a cost of about 1.75 each, if I recall, ordered by the dozen, with custom lettering (red and blue). I have also orderd custom ribbons for our Sea Scout regatta events the past few years. All these came from national and we have been pleased with the product.

I am putting together a Sea Scout Jeopardy (for Power Point) for our upcoming Sea Scout Regatta. For some reason I have a mental block on categories. So far I have "Knot what you expect"--Knot recognition and usage "Ranks and Awards"--all about the SS ranks and Venturing awards "Know Your Boats"--boat identification "Scuttlebutt"--a type of potpourri of Sea Scout info I am looking for two additional categories. There is already a "Rules of the Road" event, so I don't want to repeat this. Any more ideas?

But what if it is the PL or SPL who does not get up?

Many in our district take the YPT offered at roundtable yearly. Why? Because for nearly a decade, it has been put on by a Unit/District/Council scouter who was a prosecuter specializing in child abuse cases. His presentations do go beyond what is in the standard YPT (he does like the latest video, by the way). His coments to us all are that in Florida (each state has different laws), the first call must be to authorities. Our SE knows and backs this information. My wife owns a pre-school (not scouting aged youth) and she is under the same legal obligations. In our case, state law trumps the G2SS.

One more thing, only slightly off topic. My units have, of late, been some of the best FOS contibuting units in the council (if you look at funds/scout). I attribute this to one simple thing. A month before the FOS presentation (B&G or CoH, I directly address to the parents with a statement similar to this: "At our Court of Honor, there will be a district voluteer, who will be asking you to make a donation to Friends of Scouting. With decreasing funds from the United Way and other organizations, FOS is becoming local council's main source of operating capital. I would encourage you to contribute what you are willing and able to give. If you cannot afford to give, you are under no obligation to do so. In my experience, people who are blindsided with a request for a handout are not so inclined to give, but those who have been advised in advance are more open, as they are not caught off guard. I give to this campaign every year and I hope you are able to do the same...." I have found that he key to this is that last part, about being blindsided and I think it makes a big difference. One of my den leaders suggested this to me years ago when I was a CM, and my units have had great success ever since. I also believe that leading identifying that I also give, sets the example which others follow. Finally, with strong District connections, I personally choose who will make the FOS presentation to our unit, and I speak to them about their presention a week or so ahead of time. Most presentors are chomping at the bit to present to my units, because it is an easy sell. Some of those same presentors I have seen run out of a meeting on a rail for asking. Their presention is fine, but the failing lies in the attitude of the unit and it's leaders. I expect a lot of my council. In return, I do what I can go give a lot back to them. What goes around comes around.

I agree with scoutldr, but I do not view this attitude as an urban myth. The local head of the UW is an involved scouter, and his hands are completely tied as to how much his unit/branch/chapter--whatever they call it--can contribute. I accept his statements as fact. I can't phrase it any different or better than scoutldr. Six years ago, UW contributions amounted to over 60% of the funding for our council. Now it is less than 15%. FOS makes up the difference, hence increased FOS heavy handedness over the past few years. From what I have heard, these figures are typical of UW funding nation-wide.

Thanks for all the good info! Many of our scouts are skateboarders and are really looking forward to the mountain boarding. I expect we will be there more than once or twice. Photos of this online look really cool! We don't have any Wilderness Survivalists this year. But we do have takers on the Ultimate and Xtreme programs, so I will pass on climate info to them (and others). Sorry I will miss you there.

Our troop is very active during the summer. In addition to summer camp, this year the PLC planned a spelunking campout (3 nights) and a 70 mile canoe trip. They also scheduled a 1 day canoe trip (during the week), a daysail on a 47' sailboat around the bay, a surfing outing (a Friday or Saturday, weather permitting)and a Rifle and Shotgun Shoot (weekend day). The only meetings we will drop will be the Monday after we return from camp and after the long canoe trip.

Well, restarting a VOA in our council has been one of my quiet goals for some time. Quiet, because I have always known that my initiative was not what was needed here, but that the Venturers needed to take ownership of this body in order for it to happen. Last night we had a "special" Venture Forum meeting. Since the fall, I have slowly worked to include the Venturers (and of course the Sea Scouts) in the Forum, and our last meeting flopped, when several severe lines of spring storms rolled through just before and after our meeting time. But two did make it and insisted upon rescheduling to discuss several issues. That meeting was last night. I spoke to the group about the VOA, and then moved on to joint summer activities. A few minutes later, the Venturers literally stepped up (to the front) to begin leading the discussion and planning. I quietly slinked away and watched as they began coordinating activities for then next 5 months. Then they began talking about how to organize themselves as a VOA, and I was able to answer some questions they had about this. I identified an advisor who was willing to work with them, and they set a meeting for next week. Looks like they are off to the races! It is always good to see these youth taking it upon themselves to act and organize. We have a strong group of leaders here, who appear to want to work together. I could not be happier to see this finally come together. One more thing to mark off my "to do" list. Facilitate the formation of a Venure Officers' Association

Let me be the among the first to offer a well earned congratulations! Sounds like you have begun to grow a great troop which will have many opporutnities for fun and growth in the future. Keep up the good work.

Not to belittle the situation, but just because things are being cancelled does not mean it isn't hype. In this country, 36,000 people die each year from whatever influenza strain is prevelent that year, which works out to nearly 100/day. Of course that is an average, and is much lower "out of season." In the last week in this country, one person has died from the so called swine flu. That is roughly 1/700th the rate of what many Americans just shake off, miss a day or two of work, and are done with it. Obviously, these statistics will change, and I understand that this is a serious illness. But with the 100 or so cases so far, only one had been fatal. I am not a medical expert, an infectious disease scientist, and I didn't stay at a holiday inn last night. Things may change, but I do not believe this is what the media is trying to scare us into believing it is.(This message has been edited by Buffalo Skipper)

What are some examples of (night) games your scouts play at campouts? When they are not being too lazy (the SPL would rather go to bed at 9pm than play a game), our troop is big into Manhunt. As a youth, we used to have "Flashlight War," a capture the flag in which you "tag" by spotting someone with a flashlight and calling their name. Flashlight wars was the big thing with our troop, and was the highlight of each and every campout we went on, even while backpacking. Several scouts would actually survey the area in daylight to begin formulating a strategy. On the rare occasion in which we would find ourself camping with another troop, we would always challenge them to a flashlight war. I have seen the Night Games section of Kudu's website, and I have passed this on to our SPL (who would rather sleep), but I really wanted to hear what your troops do.

I was a scout during the Skill Award era. I also earned all 12 and still have mine, scratched up as described above. While cleaning out our scout hut over the Christmas break, I found several complete sets in velvet frames. I spent some time on numerous occasions contemplating the difference between the Skill Award system and the one now used for T-2-1. I see (as best I can recall) the same requirements in the rank as used to be in the skill awards. I can't say as I liked or disliked the Skill Awards, so I see the requirements now and then as largely the same, just in a different package. Nuclear Science. The nearest nuclear facility to us is, I believe over 300 miles away. However, the now defunct Westinghouse factory here used to produce reactor cores. I also have a friend (my former ACM) who is now an ASM with another troop who was a naval nuc officer. We also have 2 parents who are veterinary doctors. Some of you have commented on this particular scout. He is a very interesting boy. He excels at soccer, tennis and runs daily (participates in 5 and 10ks). He is a gifted student, and is a surprisingly talented artist as well, with a deep creative streak. He is a very happy person, always smiling, and he is quite the cut-up. Sadly, he never knew his father, who was killed when his helicopter went down, a few months before he was born. His mother certainly pushes him, but she is not a helicopter parent herself, and in fact, I see her as very balanced parent. She sees scouts as a good way to channel his energy, and does not put sports first. She does admit he has a "Ready, Fire! Aim" mentality, to which I can attest. I can tell you, however, that his mother did not push him to put in for the MBs. I have watched him for some time, soaking in how things work. He waited until the right time and came up with the list in hand. He will do well. Now where will I find Potter and Dentistry MBCs....

This is really close to what I have hinted at here and on other threads, but it certainly deserves a separate discussion. I really think this has to do with the troop's culture on Merit Badges. One thing I have (quietly) tried to instill in our scouts is that these are Merit Badge Counselors, not Merit Badge Teachers. It is the scout's responsiblity to learn the material, under the guidance of their counselor. As such, they should familiarize themselves with the material before a first meeting. Our troop is in such a unique position, in that being small, and having scouts who have never had a counselor outside of camp, we can still mold them with good MB habits. Speaking from experience, few of our scouts have books at summer camp (last year was my only recent exposure to this).

Actually, whitewater is probably the most challenging for us. The nearest white water is about 300 miles away (hence the challenge). The troop actually bought a copy of the "Requirements 2009" book just 3 weeks ago. We have a very extensive library with the troop. When looking at the Pioneering requirements, we realized that the newest copy we had of the Pioneering MB book was from 1990, and we had one which was the 1980 printing of the 1974 edition, 1967. We now have 2 new copies, but you get the idea (that was when I was a scout!). This is why I encourage the online sources (usscouts.org) as it appears to always be up to date. Like I have said here and in other threads, our troop (youth and adults) have forgotten how to earn and counsel merit badges. The district will be putting on a Merit Badge counselor training next week, and I will be there along with 6 other counselors I have recently recruited. We are getting there.

Thanks for the encouraging words. We are all working hard to make our troop the best we can for the scouts. It is a slow battle, but we are steadily making progress. I am finding troop dynamics to be very refreshing, and yet draining. Yes, I am taking on too much, but I am also working to relieve my other duties in scouts. Being SM to 15-20 boy scouts takes 10x the amount of time and energy as does being CM for a healthy pack of 60 cub scouts. But I am glad I stepped up to do this. Funny, growing up I always saw this troop as the big, dark, evil troop, and the biggest rival against which we could not begin to compete. It had 80+ scouts and was the largest troop in the council (my troop of 20-25 was just 1 mile up the same street). Anyone ever see the old Bloom County with the group on their galactic mission against the Death Star (depicted as the ATT logo)? That was the way I felt about this troop. Now here I am building up the program, trying to make thier program better and stronger. Irony can be so...ironic. I've said that being a CM was the easiest job in Scouting; if that is true, then being SM is the most fufilling.

Use the past tense: When swine flew.

A few years ago, I had to deal with a similar situation as a UC. A father with a prior DUI was wanting to be a Asst Cubmaster. He was an Eagle from our council. The COR knew him and his family. It was deferred to the DE and SE, who did the background check, encouraged the COR not to allow the leader to drive other scouts. This was agreed, and he has been a good leader ever since. The man took the offense very seriously and there have been no other problems.

FScouter, we do use the PLH extensively, and if you look at much of what is in the contract, it summarizes much of what is in the PLH: taking responsiblity for ones patrol, promoting patrol spirit, and the National Honor Patrol. In addition, this contract was created to address some specific short comings we were seeing in our leaders, adding things like timeliness and follow through. It also has instilled in them a the idea of patrol competitions, which we are bringing back into our troop. Remember, we have one of these for each position in the troop, and aside from the PL and SPL, BSA provides no handbooks which tell the other positions how to act or what to do. And this document is not the only thing on which their preformance is "judged." We provide training to all the leaders, so that they are prepared and have the skills and rescources necessary to succeed. So far, this has been very successful.

Hear! Hear! Stosh. Where possible, out scouts travel by patrol. SPL decides which patrol is where. I usually like to have the SPL ride with me as SM, but that does not always happen. I support the SPL in his decision. If there is a problem driver, that is something which should be worked out by the SM and/or committee. I avoid letting parents pick out anything which the scouts should be resolving amongst themselves.

Our troop is now using contracts for our major positions. Here is the one for Patrol Leader, but the others are very similar. It is multifaceted, in that it clearly defines a level of expectation, both in actual preformance, and in setting an example. Notice that this (PL) is a contract between the Patrol Leader and the SPL. Tell me what you think. Patrol Leader Pledge As Patrol Leader, I will do my best to build patrol spirit and lead my patrol by doing the following: (please initial each) ___ Wear my uniform correctly at all scout functions. ___ Set a good example, and practice the Scout Oath and Law. ___ Attend all PLC meetings and complete the Green Bar Training. ___ Arrive at all meetings 10 minutes early, and be prepared to remain late if necessary to meet with the SPL. ___ If I cannot attend a Troop meeting, I will inform my Assistant Patrol Leader and the Senior Patrol Leader in advance. ___ Plan and lead at least 3 patrol meetings or activities, outside of Troop Meetings. ___ Keep all patrol members informed of troop plans. ___ Assign jobs to patrol members and help them succeed in those jobs. ___ Volunteer myself and my patrol as needed to make the troop run well. ___ Prepare my patrol to successfully participate in all troop activities. ___ Prepare and lead my patrol in activities of service and program as assigned by the PLC. ___ Review advancement of scouts in my patrol and sign off requirements whenever possible. ___ Work with my patrol toward achieving the National Honor Patrol Award. ___ Promote Patrol spirit and pride by proudly maintaining our patrol flag, leading patrol yells, and organizing patrol skits at campouts. ___ Fulfill the requirements of this position for 6 months. ___ Assist with the training of my replacement after the completion of my term. I understand that the position of Patrol Leader is one of leadership and responsibility. If I fail to fulfill my duties as I have agreed above, I may be replaced before completion of my term. Signed: ______________________________________ Date: ______________ Patrol Leader Signed: ______________________________________ Date: ______________ Senior Patrol Leader

I was a CIT at age 14 as a Life scout at Camp Euchee (Spanish Trail Scout Reservation). $10/week, with 6 weeks of camp that year. I spent the first year in the environmental area, which I really did not like. Second week was spent in the dining hall, and the next 4 were spent in the handicraft, under a second year staffer. I came back the next summer as the second year staffer running the handicraft. I made a whopping $20/week that year, which actually paid for the sodas I drank. Great memories there. There was another camp across the lake which was the primitive camp (we maintained separate staffs), and we used to have midnight raids on one another at least once or twice a week (ususally pillow fights with water guns and shaving cream!). Going to camp as an adult last year for the first time in 20+ years reminded me of the groups and clicks which formed (shooting sports, waterfront, etc) and have changed little in that time.

I had a brand new scout come up to me last night at the end of the meeting wanting a blue card and counselor for some Merit Badges he wanted to work on. This is from memory, so it is not exactly complete: Cooking, Oceanography, Vetrinary Medicine, Dentistry, Fire Safety, Hiking, Nuclear Science, Climbing, Whitewater, Small Boat Sailing, Pottery, Photography, Shotgun Shooting, and Archery (I think that is all of them). In his defense, he is a "wicked-smart" boy, i.q. well over 140 (he does 3-digit multiplication in his head). He is very energetic, and has the discipline to follow through with what he starts. I wanted to make sure I did not squelch his enthusiasm, so I began by asking him if he had looked at the requirements. Of course he said no, so we took a minute and reviewed the Hiking MB requirements (good example as there are only 6 short requirements). I think he began to realize they are more complicated than Belt Loops or even Webelos activity badges. I wrote down one of the good MB websites and encouraged him to look over the reqs for these, pick out a couple, and I would find him counselors. Once those were completed, he could work on more, but, though I would support him on all of them, lets get off to an easy start. Did I do him right?

I choose to spin off a new thread instead of posting this here.(This message has been edited by Buffalo Skipper)